New Jersey Devils at Toronto Maple Leafs

The Devils are 1-4-0 on their current road trip, most recently losing to Ottawa, 7-3. Their two points on the road this season are tied with the Kings for fewest in the NHL.

The Maple Leafs have won two straight, outscoring their opponents 8-1 in those games. Toronto has a +11 goal differential this season, third best in the NHL.

The Devils went 2-0-1 against the Maple Leafs last season. The teams combined for nine goals in the first game of the series, then went to combine for only four goals in the last two games.

Nico Hischier assisted on two goals in New Jersey's loss to Ottawa. He now has five multi-point games despite having only 12 points on the season.

Frederik Andersen saved 67 of 68 shots for Toronto in the last two games. He has allowed three or fewer goals in 10 consecutive starts, tied with Pekka Rinne for the longest active streak in the NHL.

The Maple Leafs added an empty netter with 35 seconds remaining in the game against the Knights. They have scored 11 goals in the last five minutes of the third period this season. Only the Avalanche (14) have more.

"I thought we started real good the first 10 minutes and then I thought we got fooling around with the puck and they showed us how fast they were," Babcock said. "I thought they really dominated the second period. We were lucky to get out of the second. I didn't mind our third. In the end, when you look at this game, it's kind of like when Pittsburgh left here with the points or Dallas left here with the points. You thought you had done enough to win, and you didn't. Tonight, the shoe is on the other foot and we'll take 'er and maybe we can loosen up at home a little bit and play."

The Devils will be playing the sixth game of a seven-game trip Friday in Toronto during the Hall of Fame weekend festivities.

They lost in Ottawa despite taking a 2-0 lead at the 11:20 mark of the first period.

"Those first 10 minutes we got rewarded for what we wanted to do," Devils defenseman Andy Greene said. "We were playing with speed, we were playing a north-south game and we were getting rewarded. You'd think it would be easier that way to just stick with it. All of a sudden we were moving east-west, we stopped moving our feet and that seems to be the problem."

The Devils have been searching for consistency. They have not won two in a row since opening the season with four straight wins. They could have some help soon in the return of injured players.

Jesper Bratt (jaw fracture), Steven Santini (jaw fracture) and Stefan Noesen (upper body) are still on injured reserve but practiced with the team Thursday in Toronto.

Bratt, who has yet to play in the regular season, appears closest to a return and it could happen on Friday or Sunday when the trip ends against the Winnipeg Jets.

"It is a possibility," Devils coach John Hynes said. "He's really done a good job. His recovery's gone well, we've pushed him really hard, so physically he's in shape and ready to go. Hopefully he gets cleared here and hopefully he's back before the end of the trip."

The left winger had 13 goals and 22 assists as a rookie last season. Goaltender Eddie Lack was put on waivers Thursday and that would clear a roster spot for a return of Brett or possibly Noesen, who was injured Oct. 30.

The Devils will be facing a hot goaltender in Toronto's Frederik Andersen, who has allowed one goal in his past two games. He stopped 36 shots against Vegas and has made at least 30 saves in six of his eight win this season.

"I, personally, feel good," Andersen said. "We're keeping (opposing players) a little bit more to the outside, which is helping me out, seeing the puck better and clearing the shooting lanes. It's not so many times I have to fight through traffic and, obviously, that makes my job easier."

"It seems like he's got no pressure on him," said Toronto right winger Mitch Marner, who scored a goal Tuesday. "He just goes out there and has fun with it. He's a pretty quiet guy but this year he's opened up a lot. He jokes around a lot. ...When he gets to the rink, he's a very serious guy. He really focuses and gets ready for the games."